Cannabis Policies, Use Patterns, and Research Vary Dramatically Across 16 Countries

Cannabis use prevalence reporting was inconsistent across countries. Policies ranged from full legalization to strict prohibition. Intervention strategies varied widely. European countries dominated PubMed-indexed cannabis research, while Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, India, Iran, Nepal) contributed much less despite significant cannabis use.

Systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar (2010-2020) plus government websites in 16 countries, using country-specific search terms in English and local languages. Compared cannabis use patterns, policies, and research output across countries.

Global cannabis policy is evolving rapidly, but without consistent data across countries, it is difficult to learn from different approaches. The heterogeneity identified here suggests that global coordination is needed to prevent disproportionate harms.

As more countries consider cannabis reform, cross-country learning is critical. But this review reveals that the evidence base is geographically skewed, meaning policy decisions in underresearched regions may rely on data from very different cultural and regulatory contexts.

The review covered only 16 of nearly 200 countries. English-language search bias may undercount non-English research. The 2010-2020 timeframe misses more recent policy changes. Qualitative synthesis limits comparability.